Independent Sector Honors 2026 National Award Winners

Independent Sector is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 National Awards, given on behalf of the charitable sector, and recognizing exceptional leadership, mentorship, and ideas that strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy. The recipients will be honored at Independent Sector’s National Summit in Phoenix on Thursday, October 15, as we celebrate how their contributions demonstrate the power of our sector to transform lives and strengthen communities.

John W. Gardner Leadership Award: Janet Murguía

Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS, receives the John W. Gardner Leadership Award in recognition of her decades of leadership expanding opportunities and advancing civil rights for Latinos across the nation. Under her leadership, UnidosUS has continued to elevate Latino voices, strengthen community organizations, and advocate for policies that help families thrive. This recognition is especially meaningful as we gather in Phoenix, where UnidosUS began in 1968 as the Southwest Council of La Raza.

Janine Lee Mentorship Award: Monica Nuvamsa

Monica Nuvamsa, Executive Director of the Hopi Foundation, is this year’s recipient of the Janine Lee Mentorship Award, which recognizes outstanding mentorship in the charitable sector. A dedicated advocate for Native communities, Nuvamsa has spent her career strengthening Indigenous leadership, advancing community-driven initiatives, and creating opportunities for future generations. Her leadership at the Hopi Foundation reflects a deep commitment to empowering others and sustaining thriving communities.

Terry McAdam Book Award: John Fabian Witt for The Radical Fund: How A Band of Visionaries and A Million Dollars Upended America

John Fabian Witt, professor of law and history at Yale University, receives the Terry McAdam Book Award for The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America. The book tells the remarkable story of the Garland Fund, an early 20th-century philanthropic experiment that helped advance movements for economic equality, free speech, and civil rights. Witt’s historical account offers timely insights into the power of philanthropy to challenge conventional thinking and support lasting social change.

Join us in celebrating these outstanding honorees at Independent Sector’s National Summit, taking place October 13–16, in Phoenix.